Box conveyer switch



Dec. 8, 1942.

R. FEuSiEfa BOX CONVEYEH SWITCH Filed June 8, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4mm/fr `v R, E.' FEuslER -2,304,447 i Box oov'EYELR SWITCH Filed June a',r 1940v 4 sheets-sheet 5 0.308,-1942.' QEJFEUSIE@ l"2,304,447

Box CONVEYER SWITCH Filed June 8, 1940 y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /A/uwrae: 4LP/f 5. F s/Ee intersection.

IPatented Dec. 8, 1942' l BOX CONVEYER SWITCH vRalph E. Feusier, Dunedin, Fla., assignor to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application June 8, 1940, Serial No. 339,510

. (C1. ISS-21) views .of a power box conveyer intersection in- Y 10 Claims.

This invention relates to the 'control of the travel of articles such as boxes -and it is particubox conveyers.

In controlling power box conveyers, it is desirable to stop these when certain conditions exist requiring this, but it is generally undesirable `to stop such a conveyer when a box is being discharged therefrom.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide ameans for controlling a power box conveyor for stopping the latter, but which is adapt- Alarly useful in controlling the operation of power corporating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and illustrating. various situations met with in the operation of the invention.

Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive are diagrammatic plan views of a power box conveyer intersection incorporating a modified form of the invention and illustrate various situations met with in the operation thereof.

Fig. 1 illustrates a situation in the operation of said preferred embodiment of the invention, in

v which boxes on-each of two conveyors vare aped to continue the operation of the conveyer l after the stop means has been actuated until any box which is in the process of being discharged from the, conveyer at the time the stopv means was actuated has been discharged from said conveyer, and to then stop said conveyer,

This invention has special utility in controlling one of two power box conveyers which are combined in an intersection, so as to prevent the Jamming of boxes in said intersection. For illustrative'purposes, therefore, the invention will be described as embodied in means for controlav ling the movement of boxes through such an It is another object of this invention to provide such a power box conveyer control which will prevent the jammingof boxes at an intersection into which said conveyer delivers boxes.

Conveyer controls previously developed have required Vthat a considerable measure of force be `exerted by boxes on said conveyer in -order to control said conveyer.

were relatively less suitable for use with empty These former controls boxes than with full boxes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyer control which operates with equal facility on empty boxes and on `loaded boxes. Y

Many conveyercontrols previously devised have effected this control in response to contact with the boxes, which thus had a tendency to mar up and damage the boxes. y A still further object of this invention,A therefore,is to provide a power box conveyer control which does not mark up or wear the material of the boxes passing along said conveyer through said control.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects, as well as further objects and advanproaching an intersection between the latter in such relation that one of said conveyers will be automatically stopped to prevent the box thereon interfering with'the passage of the box on the other conveyer through said intersection,

Fig. 2 'shows a situation which follows that illustrated in-Fig. 1 and in which the controlled conveyer has just come to a standstill.

Fig. 3 illustrates a situation which follows that "illustrated in Fig. 2 and wherein the controlled lconveyer has Just been started as the box on the other conveyer has reached such a point in pass. ing through said intersection that it will not interfere with the delivery of the foremost box from the controlled conveyer into-said intersection.v .f

.Fig.. 4 .fillustrates a situation which just follows that shown in Fig. v3 and in which the aforesaidbox on the controlled conveyer is entering saldi-intersection at the` rear of the boxwhich has# Just passed through said intersection as aforesaid and in which another box is approaching said intersection on said other conveyer. Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a situation which follows shortly'that illustrated in Fig. 4 and shows the turning of a box being delivered from tages, will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: l

Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive are diagrammatic pian a. controlled conveyer so as to extend into the space in the intersection between the two boxes aforementioned on said other conveyer.

Fig. 6 is a View illustrating a situation which follows shortly after that shown in Fig. 5 and in which the box being fed from the controlled conveyer into the space in the intersection between two other boxes has just reached a point at which it cooperates with the boxfollowing it to actuate the controls of the invention'to stop the controlled conveyer so that the'latter will remain stopped until all of the` boxes aforementioned have passed through said intersection.

Fig. 'I illustrates a situation met with in the operation of the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 'z to 12 inclusive, in which e box v on each of two conveyers forming an intersection il approaching nid intersection, there being *no boxen in said intersection.

Pig. I illustrates a situation just following that shown in Fig. 7, in which a box on one of said conveyers which operates continuously actuates the control apparatus so that the box on the other of said conveyers whichv is controlled will, after proceeding a slight distance farther, actuate the control apparatus to stop said controlled conveyer.

Fig. 9 illustrates a situation which just follows that shown in Fig. 8 wherein the controlled conveyer has just been stopped.

Fig. is a view illustrating a situation shortly following that shown in Fig. 9 and wherein the controlled conveyer has just been started.

F1a. 11 is a view illustrating a situation shortly following that shown in Fig. l0 and wherein a box is being fed from the controlled conveyer onto the continuously operating conveyer.

Fig. 12 is a view illustrating a situation following closely that shown in Fig. il and wherein the box being delivered from said controlled con- 'veyer h as passed entirely from the latter onto the continuously moving conveyer.

Referring specifically to the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 6 inclusive, this is seen to comprise a conveyer intersection I4 which includes a primary conveyer I5, a secondary conveyer I6 and a control mechanism I'I. The primary conveyer is continuously driven by a motor I8 while the secondary conveyer I 6 is intermittently driven by a motor |9.,'

The motor I9 is controlled in its operation by the control mechanism I1 which includes a primary photo-electric control device 20 and a secondary photo-electric control device 2|. The con-- trol device 20 includes a source of light 22, a

photo-electric cell 23 and a magnetic switch 24,

the latter being normally closed and beingv opened when a beam of light 25 projected across the conveyer I5 by the source of light 22 is broken as by a box travelling on the conveyer I5.

The control device 2| includes a source of light 3D, a photo-electric cell 3 I, and a magnetic switch 32, the latter being normally open and being closed whenever a beam of light 33 projected across the conveyer I6 by the source o f light 30 against the photo-electric cell 3| is broken as by a box travelling on the secondary conveyer I6.

'The switches 24 and 32 are disposed inthe circuit I1 operates as follows: Y

The conveyer I5 is driven-continuously by the motor Il and the object of the control mechanism is to stop the conveyer I6 whenever any boxes about to be discharged thereby onto the conveyer Il will interfere with any boxes carried on the latter.

Fig. l shows a box A on conveyer I5 approaching the intersection of the latter with conveyer I6. Box A is just about to intercept light beam 25, and when it does intercept this light beam it will throw out switch 24 and thus break the power circuit of the motor I9. causing the `conveyer I6 to coasttc a stop. Fig.` 1 shows a box B travelling on conveyer I6,\thls box being located a slightly greater distance from the light beam 33 than the distance which conveyer I6 will coast when coming to a stop after thecircuit of the motor I9 has been interrupted.

Fig. 2 illustrates the situation following normal operation of the intersection I4 after the situation shown in Fig. 1. Here we see the beam 25 has been broken and remains broken by box A, thus interrupting the circuit of the motor I9 and causing the conveyer I6 to coast to a standstill. This stopping of the conveyer I6 has just been completed with the boxes A and B in the positions shown in Fig. 2. -'It is seen that box B has stopped just short of interrupting light beam 33. If the box B had been close enough to light beam 33 at the time box A ilrst interrupted light beam 25, so that the coasting of the conveyer I6 incidental to its stopping carried box B through light beam 33 thus interrupting the latter, switch 32 would have been closed so as to again start conveyer I6 and thisl conveyer would have been kept operating by the interception of light beam 33 by the box B until the latter had been completely discharged onto conveyer I5.

As box A travels along the conveyer I5 from the position'in which it is shown in Fig. 2, it continues to intercept the light beam 25 until just before it reaches the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, where it moves out of line of this beam and permits the latter to be re-established. This throws in the switch 24, which energizes the motor I9 and starts the conveyer I6.

Fig. 3 illustrates box B after being moved by this; so as to intercept the ,light beam 33. As already described, the intercepting of the light .beam 33 by a box on the conveyer I6 causes this conveyer to continue in operation .until the box intercepting light beam 33 has passed entirely through the line of this beam. This means that this box must be entirely discharged from the conveyer I6 before the beam 33 is re-established. In order to illustrate the most difficult situations met with by the invention, Fig. 3 shows a box C'approaching-on the conveyer I5 and just about to intercept the light beam 25 at a time when the conveyer I6 has just been started, so that box B is intercepting the light beam 33 at the time the light beam 25 is rst intercepted.

Fig. 4 shows how box A has travelled far enough along on the conveyer I5 to be outl of the way of box B when the latter is discharged from the conveyer I6 into the path of boxes carried on 'the conveyer I5, In other words, box B is discharged onto the conveyer I6 behind box A. and turns on the conveyer I6 as shown in Fig. 5, aided by guide rails (not shown) which are placed alongside the intersection ofthe vtwo conveyers in a manner well known in the art, and box B is thus guided into place on the conveyer I5 behind box A, further steps in this process being illustrated in Figs. 5 and. I

In Fig. 4, a box D is shown on the conveyer I6 following box B. In order for ,the intersection I4 to operate properly, the only restriction which it is necessary to observe in placing the boxes on the conveyers, is to space the boxes on conveyer I6 by a distance at least as great as the distance box D is spaced from box Ai3. This spacing is' necessary so that if the conveyer I 6 is stopped by the re-establishment of light beam 33 at a time when light beam 25 is interrupted as by box C,- then the coasting of the conveyer I6 to a stop will not carry the box D far enough control Vmechanism 53 for the latter.

ascent to intercept the light beam ll. The ultimate position in which the box D comes to a halt with the stopping of the conveyer Il is shown in Fig. 6 by broken lines 25. Box D will remain in this position until box C has passed along the conveyer l out of the line of the light beam 2l so as to be out of the way of box D when the latter is discharged onto the conveyer l5 by the starting of the conveyer l5. When the latter action takes place, boxes C and D will be in the v same relation as boxes A and B in Fig. 4.

It will thus be seen that this invention provides a control for stopping conveyer I6 which, I

4when actuated-, stops this conveyer, except that if said actuation takes place at the time a box is being discharged from said conveyer, said conveyer will continue in operation until the discharge of said box is completed before said conveyer will respond to said stopping means. is also to be noted that when the means for stop-V ping the conveyer I6 remain actuated, as by the interception of the light beam 25, these stop means become effective to stop conveyer i6 just as soon las the discharge of the box from the veyer`intersection 50 which includes a primary conveyer 5|, a secondary conveyer. 52, and a The primary conveyer 5| has a motor 5l yfor driving the same and the secondaryl conveyer 52 has a motor 55, the operation of which is controlled by the control mech-anism Il.

The control mechanism 53 includes a primary photo-electric controlv device 50, a secondary 1I, a photo-electric cell 15, and a magnetic switch 1l which is normally closed. The switches 55,-

1l, and 15 are placed in the circuit supplying Y current to the motor 55. If desired, the motor Il might be supplied current through a master magnetic switch (not shown) but which would be controlled by switches 5l, 10, and 15 to start and stop the motor 55 no differently in effect than this motor is adapted to be started and stopped by the switches B5, 10, and 1I with the latter directly in the main power circuit of the motoras shown in the drawings.

The source of light II directs a beam of light 11 across the conveyer- 5| against the photoelectric cell Il which extends substantially along the same path as the beam of light 25 in the intersection I4. The source of light 58 directs a beam of light 18 acrossthe conveyer 52 against the photo-electric cell l5, the path of this beam being the same as that followed by the beam Il in the intersection I4.

discharged The control device 52 includes a source of light The intersection is constructedand operates 75 like the switch Il described hereinabove, exceptl for the addition thereto of the control device I2. The source of light 1I of this device directs a beam 'of light 1l across the conveyer l2 against t The principal purpose of having the control device 52 incorporated into the control mechanism 52 is to eliminate unnecessary stopping of the secondary conveyer as occurs ,in the inter' section-l5 when the light beam 25 is intercepted by a; box "on the conveyer l5 when there is no box on the conveyer I6 close enough to the discharge end thereof to interfere with the passage through the intersection of the box interrupting the beam 25 even though the conveyer I6 were to continue operating. In other words, the purpose of the control mechanism 52 in the intersection 50 is to permit the conveyer 52 to continue operating in spite of the beam 11 being interrupted, and in spite of the fact that the beam 18 is not interrupted, until a box on this conveyer ap proaches close enough to the discharge end thereof so that itbecomes necessary to stop it.

Fig. 'l shows a box E travelling on the conveyer 5I approaching the beam 11 and a box F on the conveyer 52 approaching the beam 19.

In Fig.A 8 we see the box E intercepting the f beam 11, while box F has not yet reached the point where it intercepts beam 19. The interception of beam 11 opens the normally closed switch 65`and as the beam 18 is unbroken and the switch 10 controlled thereby normally open, the conveyer continues to be run solely by a current going through the switch 16. As soon as the box Fl intercepts the beam 19, therefore, the switch 15 is opened and the motor 55-de-energized, thus causing the conveyer 52 to coast to a 'stop with box F positioned as shown in Fig. 9 where it isseen that this box is stopped short of intercepting the light beam 18.

From the position in which vit is shown in Fig. 9, the box E continues leftward along the con- .veyer 5I until it moves out of the line of the light beam 11 as shown in Fig. 10. Assuming that no box is following .box E on the conveyer 5| close enough to intercept the light beam 11 before bon E moves out of the line of this beam, the restoration of the light beam 11 will throw in the switch Il, which will cause the motor to be energized and the conveyer 52` started. Only a very slight travel of this conveyer is necessary to move the box F from the position in which it is shown` in Fig. 9 until it crosses the path of the light beam 18 as shown in Fig. 10. In the latter figure, box G is shown as following box E on the conveyor Il at a distance which is great enough to permit the light beam 11 to be restored foronly a brief interval. This restoration, however, is sufficient to advance the box F to where it breaks the light beam 18 and closes the switch 1U. From this point, the conveyer 52 ot course must continue to run until the box F has been discharged entirely past theline of the beam 1l.

Figs. l1 and l2 illustrate the turningvof box F onto conveyer 5| las it is discharged from the conveyer 52. It is to be noted that in Fig. 1U a box H, travelling on the conveyer 52 is spaced from a box Fa distance similar to that which box D is spaced from box B on the conveyer I6 of intersection I4, the reason forthis spacing being necessary in the conveyer 50 for exactly the same reason as it is necessary in intersection Il 4 as pointed out hereinabove. That is', if box Hfwere spaced-a lesser distance from box F, box H would be carried far enough by the coasting of theconveyer 52, after the latter is stopped by box F moving out of the pathof light beam 18, for box H to break light beam 18. This would of course cause box H to collide with box G, which collisions it'is a 'principal object 'of the invention to avoid. Thus, the lnecessity for spacing the boxes on the `secondary conveyer of each of the intersections embodying my invention and disclosed herein. A

What I claim is:

1. In a box conveyer intersection control, the combination of: a primaryv conveyer for boxes; a secondary conveyer for boxes forming an inter'- section with said primary conveyer so that said conveyers move boxes through a common intersectional area; control means vresponsive to the approach of a box on said primary conveyer within a given distance from said area to stop said secondary conveyenprovided no box on said `secondary conveyer is at that moment positioned opposite a given point adjacent the discharge end of said secondary conveyer; and means op- ;erative, when a second box isvlocated on said secondary conveyerfopposite said point at the time saidfirst mentioned box approaches said area as aforesaid, to cause said secondary conveyer to continueoperation until said secondbox has been delivered from saidsecondary conveyer onto said primary conveyer and to then stop said secondary conveyer.

2. In a box conveyer intersection control, the

combination of: a primary conveyer; Aa second- 4 ary conveyer positioned for feeding boxes onto said primary conveyer; light controlled means' responsive to a box moving beyond a given point said secondary conveyen'with the exception stated hereinafter; a light source directing a light beam across said secondary conveyer within an 1 area adjacent the 'dischargeend .of the latter;

secondary photo-electric means responsive to said last mentioned light ,beam to render interruptions of said iirst mentioned light beam effective in stopping said secondary conveyer, the interruption` of said light beam over said secondary conveyer rendering said primary photo-electric means inoperative to stop said secondary conveyer. v.

5. In a box conveyer intersection control, the combination of: a primary conveyer; a secondary. conveyer positioned'for feeding boxes onto said primary conveyer, there being two control lpoints I and 2 located along said secondary conveyer, p oint 2 being closer to said intersection than point I; control means X responsive to the approachof a box on said primary conveyer within a given distance from said intersection to stop said secondary conveyer, with the exception stated hereinafter; control means Y responsive to the presence of a box at'point I lon said secondary conveyer to causesaid secondary conveyer to be stopped by actuation of control means X; and control means Z responsive to the presence of a box on said secondary conveyer at point 2 to cause said secondary conveyer to continue in operation until said last mentioned box has passed beyond point 2, said control means X being inoperative to stop said secondary conveyer when n obox is disposed on said secondary conveyer' opposite point I'.

c.4 A combination as in claim 5, in which sach vof the three control means recited thereincomprises a light source and a photoelectric means responsive to a beam of light projected by said light source, said beam of control `means X extending diagonally across said primary conveyer and said beams of control means Y and control on said primary conveyer toward the intersection thereof with saidsecondary conveyer so as to stop said secondary conveyer with the exception stated hereinafter; and means for rendering Asaid vfirst aforementioned means inoperative to stop said secondary conveyer while a box is being discharged from said secondary conveyer onto said primary conveyer.

3. In a box conveyer intersect1on control, the

combination of: a primary conveyer; a secondary conveyer positioned for feeding boxes onto said primary conveyer; light controlled means responsive to a box moving on said primary conveyer r toward the' intersection thereof with said secondary conveyer to stop said secondary conveyer; and means for rendering said rst aforementioned means inoperative if the latter is caused to function while a box is being discharged from said secondary conveyer onto said primary conveyor, said second control means being adapted,

. after the discharge of said box from said secondary conveyer onto said primary conveyer, and provided said rst control means at that time remains actuated by a box on said primary ccnveyer, to cause said secondary conveyer to be stopped. p

4. In combination: a primary conveyer; a secondary conveyer adapted to form an intersection with and deliver boxes onto said primary conveyer; means for forming a beam of light crossing the lpath of boxes carried on said primary conveyer; primary photo-electric control means responsive to interruptions of said beam to stop means Z extending across saidsecondary conveyer at points I and 2 respectively.

'1. In combination: a conveyer for carrying boxes;` means adapted, when actuated, to stop said conveyer, with the exception to be noted hereinafter; and check means rendering sa'id iirst -mentioned means inoperative to stop said conveyer when said stop means is actuated While a Vbox is being discharged fromsaid conveyer but permitting said stop means to be effective to stop the conveyer when said stop means is actuated when a box is not being so discharged.

8. In combination: a conveyer for carrying f boxes; Vmeans adapted, when actuated, to stop said conveyer, with the exception to be noted hereinafter; check means rendering said rst mentioned means inoperative to vstop said conveyer while a box is being discharged from said conveyer but causing said stop means to be effective, if actuated whenever a box is not beingv so discharged; and means rendering said stop to stop said conveyer if said stop means is actuated whenever said zone is empty `of boxes.

10. In combination: a conveyer for carrying boxes; means adapted, when actuated, to stop said conveyer. with the exception to be noted hereinafter; check means responsive to the physical presence of a box on said conveyer within a given zone of said conveyer to render said first mentioned means inoperative to stop said conveyer, but causing said stop means to be effective if said stop means is actuated whenever said zone is empty of boxes; and means rendering said stop meansineffective to perform its function aforesaiduntil a box traveling on said' conveyer has /approached'within a given 'distance of said zone.

RALPH E. FEUSIER. 

